Memons (Gujarati script: મેમણ ) are an ethnic (linguistics) group
that originated from lower Sindh near the Indus delta region. They
are well respected Muslim Entrepreneurs, Philanthropist and
Humanitarian in the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere. Memon are,
generally, well known for being honest, hardworking and innovative
that contributed greatly to their commercial success.

There are two unsubstantiated theories,
according to Sayad Amir-ud-din Nuzhat (1873) - In early 15th century
A.D near Nagar-Thatta, during the rule of Markab Khan of Samma
dynasty (A.D. 1351-1521), several Hindu families accepted Islam from
a well respected Sufi Sheikh who had given this tribe a new name
Mu’amin and overtime the name tainted to Memon. If this theory
is accepted, then the Memons were originally Hindu. Second
theory is that according to Karimbaksh Khalid is that Certain
soldiers of Arab tribe of Banu Tamim, of Qatif, near Ta’if, came to
Sindh along with Muhammad bin Qasim, they were known as Maymenah,
right-wingers in the army , and later this word was corrupted to
Memons. If this theory is accepted, then the Memons were
originally Arabs.

Migration

16th and 17th Century
Soon after their entering into Islam, 15th century A.D., some Memons
began to migrate toward the south west of Sindh approaching Coastal
region of Arabian Sea into neighboring regions such as Kutch and
Kathiawar for security and/or business reasons.

18th Century
The history books have often described Memons as the "sailor
businessmen of India" who had spread out from native Sindh and
Gujarat taking residence and setting business in various Indian
cities and faraway such as Asian and African continents

19th Century
Beginning of 19th century, a mass settlement of Memons began
throughout India, and a few decades later they also emigrated beyond
its borders, chiefly to the countries of the Indian Ocean basin . By
the end of the 19th century, rich communities of Memons were
appearing in the ports of the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf, in
Ceylon, Burma and East South Africa. By the end of 19th century, a
sizeable Memon community was reported to have entrenched itself in
East Asia . Memons have also established themselves in the Republic
of Mauritius.The Cutchee Memons have even built in or around 1955
and manages till now one of the biggest and most beautiful Mosque in
Mauritius : Jummah Masjid [www.jummahmasjid.org].

20th Century

Pre-Partition
August 14, 1947 A new nation Pakistan was created and gain
independence from British 9-10 November 1947' Occupation of Junagadh
State and the population of Kutiyana was attacked by the Sikh
Regiment Novemebr 16- 30 1947 Migration to Pakistan

Post-Partition

Religion
Memons are Sunni Muslims and follow the Hanafi Islamic legal system
(Fiqh).

Language
Previously they used to speak Sindhi language, because of their
migration to the neighboring regions Kutch and Khatiwar and their
excessive use of the Gujrati language in their businesses, their
language evolved into a dialect called Memoni , which is unwritten.
Until 1970’s Memon businesses kept their books, records and business
doucments in Gujrati. Toward the end of 20th century Memoni further
under went some changes in Pakistan and elsewhere due to Urdu
language as Urdu has been widely accepted and used as a Islamic
language by the Muslims in the Indian subcontinent and eventually
English is being replaced by Gujarati.

Memoni is falling into disuse and the
younger generation is unlikely to learn it as their mother tongue
for various reasons:
1. Non-existence of language learning tools especially disappearance
of Gujarati in Pakistan
2. Many second generation parents do not know their mother tongue
themselves
3. Fear of being discriminated or being ridiculed by some Urdu
speaking

Demographics
Prior to the Partition of India most Memons lived in Kutch and
Khatiwar. Those who settled in Kutch were called Kutchi Memon /
Cutchi, and those who settled in Kathiawar were called Kathiawadi
Memons and those who remained in Sindh were called Sindhi Memon.
Memons further distinguished themselves to a town where their
forefathers last settled in India. Example Banatva Memonn Kutiyana
Memon. Many Memons also settled in major Indian cities such as
Ahmedabad, Surat, Bombay, Calcutta, Cochin, Madras, Colombo etc.
After Partition of India Many later settled in Pakistan. Today, they
are scattered throughout India and Pakistan, with significant
communities in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, UAE, and South Africa and Burma. There are no definite
population figure and it is estimated that, it is over one million
(2005) for Khatiwari Memon alone. This are no estimate available for
Kutchi and Sindhi Memons
Below are the well established soceities انجمن or welfare
association called as Jamaat جماعت (Gujarati script: જમાત ) which is
generally refer to a town where their forefathers last settled in
India. These societies are generally established for the welfare of
their members or non-members particularly to help poor and needy.
Bantva Bagasra Kutiyana Dhoraji Jetpur Vanthli Gondal Upleta Mangrol
Veraval Okhai Halai Surati Junagarh Keshod Porbandar Jamnagar Rajkot
Manavadar Balagam Sardargarh Kutchi/ Cutchi Morabi Tankara , Cutchee
Maiman Society in Mauritius

Culture

Life style

Marriage
Most Memons are religious and family oriented, and their lives are
deeply rooted in Islamic tradition. Almost all marriages are still
arranged by parents, in the past, bride and groom did not even meet
until night of wedding. Now, many family permit meeting of couple
with supervised courtship before and after the engagement. The
degree to which the children are consulted depends on the family, a
matchmaker, an elderly lady, sometimes is employed for a suitable
search. Womenfolk generally play important role in selection and
negotiation of wedding arrangements. The negotiation generally
includes whether the couple will stay with groom’s parent or have
their own accommodation. How the weeding will be financed who will
pay what. Pre-partition, a groom must give clothing, jewellery to
bride but nowadays, the situation is reversed. Nowadays contrary to
Islamic tradition, sometimes bride family have to undergo outrage
expenditure to finance the wedding, some cases this amount to a
dowery. The pre-wedding ceremonies include simple engagement party,
generally participated by womenfolk only. A simple marriage
religious ceremony, without any procession, generally take place at
a prominent mosque in the city only men participate, consent of
bride is legally required at the ceremony which generally obtained
by her legal representative prior to the ceremony.. In the past the
weddings were simple, that may include a wedding procession called
Milad , the singing of nasheeds without any musical instruments.
Nowadays the weddings often elaborate sometimes consists of a dozen
of different gatherings with unnecessary and outrage expense.
Man having more than one wife ,divorce and marriage of younger girl
to older man are rare. Marriage between the close relative is
discourage and forced and child marriages are unheard of. Memons
rarely married outside their subgroup (jamaat)

Notable Personalities
Social workers:
• Abdul Sattar Edhi 'Nishan-e-Imtiaz' Ambulance and Hospital
Services, burial of homeless
• Bilquis Edhi Women Welfare orphanage
• Muhammad Hussain Mehanti counsellor social worker social activist
MNA Member of Parliament from Jamaat-e-Islami
• Muhammad Siddique Polani community leader, a social worker, a
journalist, a reformer, an entrepreneur and a patron of many
literary, cultural and youth activities
Philanthropists
• Seth Hoosen Kasam Dada
• Ahmad Adaya founding partner of prominent California real estate
company IDS Real Estate Group (1927-2006)
Industrialist:
• Seth Ahmad Dawood Dawood Group
• Haji Ali Mohammad Pakolawala's
• Bashir Ali Mohammad Gul Ahmed Group Gul Ahmed Group
• Ghulam Muhammad A. Fecto Chairman of FECTO Group of Industries
Financier
• Kasim Parekh President/CEO Metropolitan Bank, Governor of State
Bank of Pakistan (1989-1990)
• Siddique Dawood & Family Shariah compliance Islamic fianancing
Modaraba
Professionals:
• Pir Mohammed A. Kaliya C.A. Former head to of several professional
institutes
• Nisar Memon Member, Senate of Pakistan
Others
• Ismail Mohammed Chief Justice of South Africa and Namibia .
• Major General Abu Bakr Osman Mitha
• Haji A. Razzak Yaqub Ghandi UAE CEO ARY Group and President of
World Memon Organization (WMO)
• G.M. Banatwalla - an Indian politician Member of the House of the
People (Lok Sabha), the lower house of the Parliament of India
• Hussein Ahamed Bhaila (1949) Deputy Minister of Plan
Implementation and Member of The Parliament of Sri Lanka - Formerly
United National Party Now in the UPFA -
for further reading

source: from Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia contributed by Siddique Katiya